In its second decision against the Santa Barbara News-Press
in a year, the National Labor Relations Board on Thursday affirmed a
judge’s finding that the paper was bargaining in bad faith. The newsroom
union has been in fruitless contract negotiations with management
since 2007.

There was no immediate response from the paper, but it is expected
that owner Wendy McCaw will appeal to a federal court, as she did in
August 2011, when the NLRB ordered her to
reinstate eight reporters illegally fired for protected union
activities. The case is being closely watched in the newspaper industry
due to possible effects on labor relations.